Strike causes exam worry
UNIVERSITY students face having their final-year exam disrupted as lecturers prepare to strike over a number of dates this spring.
The first walkout, tomorrow, will affect more than 60,000 students at the University of Manchester and the University of Salford. It has emerged that the upcoming strikes could continue until June, meaning summer exams could be affected, or even cancelled.
Plans to escalate the strikes were announced this week by the General Secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), Sally Hunt.
Strikes are currently only scheduled to take place for four weeks until midMarch, but now could be extended for another three months. Academics claim they have been left with no option but to strike following a row over changes to their pensions.
UCU regional official Martyn Moss said: “Nobody wants to take strike action, but staff feel they have no choice. These hardline proposals would slash staff pensions and are simply uncalled for. It is staggering universities have refused to engage with the union and a real insult to staff and students. We hope students will put pressure on the vice-chancellors to get their reps back round the negotiating table.”
The universities’ representatives – Universities UK – are trying to change the defined benefit element of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension.
UCU bosses claim this would leave a typical lecturer almost £10,000 a year worse off in retirement.
The universities are among 64 institutions that will be hit with 14 days of strikes over the next four weeks if the dispute is not resolved. The decision regarding the extension of the strike dates will be finalised at a meeting on March 2.
If this is approved, it will mean a total of five months of paid university teaching time will be affected, including the cancellation of final-year exams. The full strike dates are: Week one – Thursday, February 22, and Friday, February 23.
Week two – Monday, February 26; Tuesday, February 27; and Wednesday, February 28.
Week three – Monday, March 5; Tuesday, March 6; Wednesday, March 7; and Thursday, March 8.
Week four – Monday, March 12; Tuesday, March 13; Wednesday, March 14; Thursday, March 15; and Friday, March 16.